The Legal Battle Over Moreland’s Subpoena Power Almost Complete

The tussle over whether the Moreland Commission on Public Corruption has the power to subpoena lawmakers’ outside business interest is almost complete.

And whether than determining whether the panel can pry open more information or if the court will rebuke its authority, the battle is ending in a declaration that the arguments are moot.

State lawmakers had sued to quash the subpoenas earlier this year, citing that Moreland Commissions only empower the governor to investigate the executive branch.

The commission argued the extra authority given by the attorney general’s office provided the legal heft to issue the subpoenas.

Court documents filed late Thursday show the effort to quash the now-withdrawn subpoenas issued by the Moreland Commission is being dropped entirely.

The “stipulation of discontinuance” also notes the Moreland panel’s staff has also been formally withdrawn as well.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo late last month announced the commission would disband after state lawmakers agreed to a package of ethics measures in the state budget, including a measure that would increase oversight at the state Board of Elections.

Cuomo’s decision to shut the commission down has come under criticism from U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara as well as his Republican opponents.